ET Report
JAMMU, Mar 10: J&K has been under the Governor's rule since January 8 following the demise of Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed in New Delhi. In between, BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh a number of times gave the people to understand that all was well with the PDP-BJP coalition and the PDP-BJP coalition government would be in place as soon as possible.
On the other hand, the PDP also opened its cards and laid down some pre-conditions for the formation of the government. From the PDP side, it is mainly its president Mehboba Mufti who has been speaking on the issue. She has left everyone guessing as she has neither overruled nor ruled in the possibility of PDP forming government with the BJP. Her statement that the decision of her father to forge an alliance with the BJP was final and that she considers the agenda of alliance and its time bound implementation equally important has led many to believe that there is the possibility of the PDP-BJP coalition assuming the office.
As of today, nothing definite could be said as to when the PDP-BJP coalition government would be formed. For, the PDP is waiting for the Prime Minister's response, which is not forthcoming, and the BJP is looking forward to that day when the PDP would elect legislature party leader, which is not happening.
In the meantime, reports suggest that the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of the Sangh Parivar, will discuss all "pros and cons" before taking decision on re-alliance with the PDP. The ABPS will meet at Naguar, Rajsthan, for three days, March 11-13 and the issue could come up for discussion on any of these three days of what is being termed in Jammu as "a very crucial" meet.
Local RSS leaders Brig (Retd) Suchet Singh, Prant Sangh Chalak; Ramesh Pappa, Prant Prachark; and Purshotam Dadhichi, Prant Karyavahak have already left for the ABPS meet, which is also likely to be attended by Ram Madhav, the BJP point man for J&K.
Insiders reveal that "the Naguar meet will decide the fate of the BJP-PDP coalition" and further inform that the "local BJP and RSS leadership is divided on the issue". "While the former ministers want the high command to re-stitch alliance with the PDP, there are many in the party and RSS who are against their insistence," the source said. It would be interesting to see what decision the ABPS finally takes. Meanwhile, former BJP ministers are keeping their fingers crossed as they are not so sure about what the ABPS does at Nagpur. |
